West Virginia’s public colleges and universities are pledging increased support for student veterans during events to be held next week through the state’s “5 Star Challenge” initiative, which launched earlier this fall. The Challenge, which calls on institutions to adopt a set of exemplary standards for supporting student veterans, is a tribute to the military tradition of issuing “challenge coins” to service members who embody the values and standards of their military units.

The National Security & Intelligence Program and the Open Source Intelligence Exchange at Fairmont State University are sponsoring “Bridging the Gap: Assessing Gender Imbalances in the National Security Field,” a panel discussion featuring industry experts.

Students and faculty from the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts traveled to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 9 to visit The Newseum. The Newseum’s mission is to champion the five freedoms of the First Amendment through exhibits, public programs and education.

Fairmont State University’s Honors Program hosted its annual Quiz Bowl at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Nine teams from West Virginia high schools competed for first place. The schools participating in this year’s competition were Cameron High School, East Fairmont High School, Liberty High School, River View High School, South Harrison High School, University High School and Woodrow Wilson High School.

The One-Room Schoolhouse, a Fairmont State University campus landmark, remains a visible symbol of the University’s continued focus on teaching and learning. Located near the Bryant Street Entrance to main campus, the museum is a significant artifact of regional and educational history.

As part of Fairmont State University’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, the campus and Fairmont community are invited to help commemorate an historic day for the oldest building on the main campus, Hardway Hall, originally known as the Administration Building.

The Transylvania University of Braşov, Faculty of Letters, hosted the Appalachians/Carpathians International Conference on Oct. 6-9. The conference, a biennial event, brought more than 24 U.S. scholars, including two Fairmont State University graduates, to the city Braşov over a three-day period. An equal number of Romanian and European scholars are expected to present their research at the conference, which is officially titled: “Appalachians/Carpathians: Researching, Documenting and Preserving Highland Traditions.”